The T20 World Cup 2026 is over for the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Their journey home, however, has not begun. Both teams remain stranded in India after escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered serious airspace closures, severely disrupting international flight schedules. Now, they just wait but the tensions aren’t going to slow down anytime soon.
The West Indies were scheduled to leave Kolkata shortly after their Super 8 elimination. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, were due to fly out of Delhi on Monday morning following their final match against South Africa. Both teams had planned to travel via Dubai, which is a key transit hub for flights between India and the Caribbean or southern Africa. That plan is no longer possible.
ICC working on alternative routes
Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed that their squad is safe and currently in Delhi. “Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirms that the Zimbabwe senior men’s team remains safe and well in India following the conclusion of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. The squad was scheduled to return home via Dubai, but travel plans have been affected by the evolving situation in the Middle East, which has disrupted key transit routes,” the board said in a statement.
The team had been booked on Emirates flights from Delhi to Dubai and then onward to Harare, travelling in batches from early Monday morning. Those plans were halted due to the airspace restrictions.
The International Cricket Council has stepped in to coordinate fresh arrangements. “The International Cricket Council (ICC) has activated contingency measures and is working with international carriers to secure alternative travel arrangements. ZC remains in constant communication with the ICC and team management on the ground to ensure the squad’s safe and timely return,” Zimbabwe Cricket added.
As per reports, alternative routes through Europe, South Asia and Southeast Asia are being explored to bypass the restricted West Asian corridor. However, no confirmed departure timelines have been announced.
Middle East airspace disruption
On February 28, the United States of America (USA) and Israel launched a massive aerial bombardment targeting Iranian military, nuclear, and governmental sites. In retaliation, Iran has targeted Israel’s and the USA’s bases in the region, and countries like Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait have been affected. The affected Flight Information Regions include:
| Country | FIR Identifier | Country | FIR Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | Tehran (OIIX) | Iraq | Baghdad (ORBB) |
| Israel | Tel Aviv (LLFI) | Jordan | Amman (OJAC) |
| Lebanon | Beirut (OLBB) | Kuwait | Kuwait (OKAC) |
| Saudi Arabia | Jeddah (OEJD) | UAE | Emirates (OMAE) |
| Bahrain | Bahrain (OBBB) | Qatar | Doha (OTDF) |
| Oman | Muscat (OOMM) |
